Charity

The active assistance to the development of the social environment, participation in the life of the younger generation, and providing support to the population in the regions where industrial enterprises are located have become the basis of social stability, which is a prerequisite for the effective operation of the Company.

Shchekinoazot annually invests tens of millions of rubles in charitable programmes. In 2017 investment amounted to about RUB 46 million. Over the nine months of 2018 RUB 62 million has been allocated.

GIVING SUPPORT TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION

The Company provides support to the younger generation through the implementation of a charitable programme covering maternity hospitals, nursery schools, educational institutions (schools, lyceums, vocational schools), as well as supplementary education institutions, children's creative centres, and clubs.

Interacting with schools and nursery schools, the Company tries to create and improve conditions for the effective training, development, and careers education of children.

The Company provides assistance to the teaching staff to organise leisure and cultural events for children, including Knowledge Day and Alumni Reunion Day.

In 2014 the decision was made to establish the Charitable Foundation of the Topsøe, Tolstoy, and Sokol Families (the Haldor Topsøe company is a strategic business partner of Shchekinoazot) to support talented children in the Shchekino District. In the very same year the Foundation began its work.

In 2018 the Foundation has supported 28 gifted children who demonstrate outstanding abilities in their various fields: singing, dance, sports, crafts, and science.

A plan for the individual and collective development of children's talents has been developed.

'The main objective of the Foundation is to develop the abilities of children in a variety of areas,' said Natalia Pilus, Member of the Board of Trustees. 'To achieve this goal, we hold master classes, competitions, demonstration lessons, and lectures and organise meetings with outstanding people…'

The Company facilitates the development of children's sports in the region and patronizes sports groups and clubs. Shchekinoazot allocated funds for the renovation of a number of sports facilities in the Tula Region.

The Company also acts as an organiser and sponsor of significant sports competitions. For example, in 2018 the Yubileynyy Sports Centre in the settlement of Pervomayskiy hosted the Russian Cup in Sports Acrobatics.

Shchekinoazot cares about organising leisure activities for children.

For example, during the summer holidays in 2018 the Company has paid for vacation packages for 170 children of employees of Shchekinoazot and young athletes from the Yubileynyy Sports Centre who had a holiday and a great time at the Novoye Pokoleniye summer camp.

In addition, there is a cultural education programme for children. The Company funds free admission to theatrical and circus performances for children of the Shchekino District. Moreover, the artists themselves come to the settlement, which requires additional funding and solutions to emerging organisational issues.

SOCIAL SUPPORT MEASURES

The Company provides ongoing support to certain groups of society, including young families and those with multiple children, young parents, pensioners, veterans of the WWII, internationalist soldiers, combatants in the war in Chechnya, labour veterans, orphans, and disabled people.

The Company also helps local authorities in the organisation of Victory Day and the International Day of Older Persons.

In 2015, the year of the 70th anniversary of the Victory, at the initiative of the management of Shchekinoazot, it was decided to provide targeted assistance to all veterans of the WWII in the Shchekino District. The campaign also continued in the following years.

The Company's administration and the Factory Trade Union Committee also pay close attention to and help the members of the Board of Veterans of Shchekinoazot.

For veterans and the elderly Shchekinoazot organises trips to the Sintetik sanatorium so that the older generation can improve their health and spend their free time in a beneficial way. The Company also organises leisure activities for its former employees: they have the opportunity to go on excursions, visit interesting places, and attend cultural and other social events.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DISTRICT

Shchekinoazot does a lot for the benefit of the Shchekino District, the territory in which it is located. For example, the Company allocated RUB 10 million for the renovation of the district hospital.

In 2015–2016 the Company also paid RUB 30 million for the repair of more than 30 facades of houses in the settlement of Pervomayskiy, where its chemists live. First, repairs were carried out at 13 houses located on Prospekt Ulitina at the entrance to the settlement. They included the house at 33 Komsomolskaya Street, where Pyotr Sharov and Boris Lurie lived (the Director and Chief Engineer of Shchekinoazot, respectively). All houses were built between 1949 and 1959. As part of the second phase of this project, the central street Oktyabrskaya was overhauled and gained an individual look. This also applies to the streets of Komsomolskaya, Sovetskaya, and Prospekt Ulitina. Work began in July 2016, and 18 building facades have been renovated since then.

The Company organised that the pond in the settlement of Pervomayskiy be filled with water so that the local authorities have the opportunity to install a fully-fledged recreation area there.

In the run-up to New Year Shchekinoazot decorated buildings on the industrial site as well as the settlement of its chemists with festive illumination, snowflakes, and garlands. The locals had never seen such an extravaganza of lights and colours here!

The settlement of Pervomayskiy now has a cosy and hospitable Community Centre as well as the Yubileynyy Sports Centre that meets all the necessary requirements for the facilities of this type, where young athletes can attend training session at the Vityaz boxing club for free. The Company covers all costs.

In addition, Shchekinoazot organises wonderful holidays for local residents in honour of Chemists' Day, Christmas, Old New Year, Easter, and Maslenitsa, including performances with celebrities, interactive events, and fireworks.

In short, the Plant implements a large-scale programme aimed at development and improvement in the settlement of Pervomayskiy together with the local administration.

Respecting the memory of ancestors, the Company carried out a large-scale landscaping of the necropolis in Kochaki in 2016. The necropolis now has a well-kept territory and level asphalt walkways.

In addition, the Company always supports good and creative initiatives in the Shchekino District. Its employees carry out Saturday voluntary work days and support youth campaigns. For example, in 2018 the young people of the District held a flashmob titled 'I, you, and they—Shchekinoazot, HURRAY!' in support of the Company's production and social initiatives. Its active participants were the younger generation of chemists.

Thanks to the investments of Shchekinoazot, a monument to the famous singer, composer, and poet Igor Talkov was unveiled in Shchekino. In addition, the historical and cultural complex at Shchekino station and memorial complexes in honour of the heroes of the WWII in Tula were built.